Coho 2025

The Skagit was not kind to the 4 of us yesterday, we definitely need some rain!
 
We did well on my coastal home water last weekend. Harvested our limit of hatchery fish and caught well into the teens. Some very big coho around this year. Landed one buck that was springer sized and lost two others that looked similar.

Water levels were dropping fast though. Fishing probably won't be good again until we get another good rain episode.

Too much fun to bother with photos except the one I sent to the wife to justify leaving her at home with the dog... ;)

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Mine are dirtbag-caught, so I made a thread where you're all safe from its contents:

Evan B

Non-Fly Thread 'Columbia fall coho'

Been fun since the Columbia reopened on October 1st.

I've been hitting my favorite little local spot from my boat and casting wigglers mostly. I have busted out the fly rod a few times like I do every year, but they never, ever, even give it a look.

Been out daily but going to take a break this week, take a friend out next weekend, then trade my Grundens for my Sitka camo for my next adventures 😂 between my chinook season, then all my ocean trips (halibut, lings, sablefish, albacore, salmon) I'm very well stocked on fish meat...
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Evan B said:
Mine are dirtbag-caught, so I made a thread where you're all safe from its contents:

Evan B

Non-Fly Thread 'Columbia fall coho'

Been fun since the Columbia reopened on October 1st.

I've been hitting my favorite little local spot from my boat and casting wigglers mostly. I have busted out the fly rod a few times like I do every year, but they never, ever, even give it a look.

Been out daily but going to take a break this week, take a friend out next weekend, then trade my Grundens for my Sitka camo for my next adventures 😂 between my chinook season, then all my ocean trips (halibut, lings, sablefish, albacore, salmon) I'm very well stocked on fish meat...
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Ya i figured something that wasn't body of water specific and flyfishing centered should be in order since its already october.
 
Evan B said:
Well, I attempt fly... my fish I target just dgaf about flies.
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I totally get that on the Big C. The local late run trib fish are another matter. I have reason to believe fresh ones in very specific water, and conditions, might actually take a skater.
 
the_chemist said:
Come to puget sound and learn the ways

Is bucktailng a thing on the C?
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I'm quite happy with my Columbia program that's 10min away 😎 Many people are often surprised to find I enjoy catching fish on gear every bit as much.

Bucktailing is not a thing on the Columbia. I do get them on flies out in the saltwater though.
 
the_chemist said:
Is bucktailng a thing on the C?
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I'd say that's a solid no. Years ago I tried deep swinging flies in the CR Gorge where it seems like it might actually work. Only thing I caught was a 20# carp. Where (I think) Evan is fishing, plugs, spinners, and maybe jigs are the way to go.

That said, those big C fish are just waiting for rain to head up local tribs where I know they will eat flies. Fingers X'ed I'll post a few in the next couple weeks.
 
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SilverFly said:
I'd say that's a solid no. Years ago I tried deep swinging flies in the CR Gorge where it seems like it might actually work. Only thing I caught was a 20# carp. Where (I think) Evan is fishing, plugs, spinners, and maybe jigs are the way to go.

That said, those big C fish are just waiting for rain to head up local tribs where I know they will eat flies. Fingers X'ed I'll post a few in the next couple weeks.
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Well I know a few hundred Big C fish have seen flies I've thrown. But not a single one flinched. I did watch Livescope to see any reactions. Then I'd throw out a wiggler, and they'd very much react.
 
G_Smolt said:
Have you tried gettin' weird in the fly department? Like, a big-ass (6"-8") bunny leech stripped as fast as you can? Or a Dolly lama on a floating line with a loooong leader so yer jiggin'?
I totally get the catching fish on a gear rod, but it's pretty fun to solve puzzles too, IMO.
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I'm on year 8 of trying to solve this puzzle and still not even a single grab. I'm sure i'm well over 100+ on other methods at this spot. Had @adamcu280 tie up some jiggy flies with rattles in them for me last year to try that weirdness out.
 
G_Smolt said:
Have you tried gettin' weird in the fly department? Like, a big-ass (6"-8") bunny leech stripped as fast as you can? Or a Dolly lama on a floating line with a loooong leader so yer jiggin'?
I totally get the catching fish on a gear rod, but it's pretty fun to solve puzzles too, IMO.
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Copy that. Gettin' weird and solving puzzles pretty much defines my approach to fishing. Also knowing when you've hit a hard limit is a lesson I've had to learn more than once. Seems Evan has wisely moved on in this case.
 
SilverFly said:
Copy that. Gettin' weird and solving puzzles pretty much defines my approach to fishing. Also knowing when you've hit a hard limit is a lesson I've had to learn more than once. Seems Evan has wisely moved on in this case.
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I mean, I had the fly rod out a few days ago to give the rattle flies another shake. May do it again.

I just get told by a lot of fly guys who haven't fished here that their idea would get them to bite. I'm here to tell you that, no, it won't 😂 can't tell you how many "fly only" guys who asked me for the gear rod after an hour or so.

Haven't totally moved on. I just have 8yrs of data to explain why I'm a bit jaded.
 
Totally get your pain. Big C is tough. Have thought about maybe some slow water areas say down by Chinook where some of those little creeks come in ? Snohomish coho can be the same way. But toss out a jig or troll a plug and your hooked up.
 
skyrise said:
Totally get your pain. Big C is tough. Have thought about maybe some slow water areas say down by Chinook where some of those little creeks come in ? Snohomish coho can be the same way. But toss out a jig or troll a plug and your hooked up.
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The spot I'm fishing, there's probably a hundred or more fish stacked on any given day. It's 20-40' deep, possible to get a fly down, but they're just so comfortable that anything that doesn't really disrupt the mood just gets ignored.

Quick video I took last time I was out there on the Livescope. Sorry about the crappy angle. Going straight on was too much reflection.
photos.app.goo.gl

New video · Thursday, Oct 9 🎬

Tap to view!
photos.app.goo.gl photos.app.goo.gl
 
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